ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 236653
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| Date: | Friday 29 May 2020 |
| Time: | 21:45 UTC |
| Type: |  Grumman G-164A Ag-Cat |
| Owner/operator: | Moller Aviation Inc |
| Registration: | N9716 |
| MSN: | 1236 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9903 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney R1340 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Maxwell, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Maxwell, CA (8CL6) |
| Maxwell, CA (8CL6) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that after loading the airplane with 2000 lbs. of sulfate and topping off with fuel in preparation for the aerial application flight, he began the takeoff roll on the 2,000 ft long airstrip with a tailwind. The pilot realized that he was in trouble and needed more airspeed, so he applied full available power as there was now insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff and safely stop. The airplane subsequently collided with a berm at the end of the airstrip and became airborne for a short distance before the pilot forced landed the airplane in a rice field. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The wings and empennage were substantially damaged.
The pilot added that he should have evaluated the weight, wind direction, and density altitude in relation to the performance capability of the airplane.
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed
for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the runway and collided with terrain.
Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and planning and decision to takeoff with a tailwind.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
FAA
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Jun-2020 21:51 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 03-Jun-2020 08:32 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 02-Mar-2021 20:11 | harro | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 07-May-2021 18:04 | rudy | Updated [Category] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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